Theodore B. Mitchell Papers 1918-2008

Summary
Contents
Names/subjects
Using these materials
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Creator
Mitchell, Theodore B.
Size
4 linear feet (6 archival storage boxes, 2 archival half boxes, 1 card box, and 1 lantern slide box)
Call number
MC 00183
Access to materials

Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice.

The Theodore B. Mitchell Papers consists of correspondence, research notes, glass plate lantern slides, and newspaper clippings pertaining to Theodore B. Mitchell's career and his research on "systematic entomology," and in particular his study of bees (which culminated in the publication of the two-volume Bees of the Eastern United States). The Professional Correspondence series contains letters to colleagues in the field of entomology and includes, among others, letters to and from the British Museum of Natural History, the California Academy of Sciences, the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the College of Tropical Agriculture. The Personal Correspondence series contains letters to friends and family members, as well as letters that document Mitchell's involvement with various civic organizations.

Theodore B. Mitchell (1890-1983) was a North Carolina State College professor of entomology for over thirty-five years. During his career, he researched "systematic entomology" and had a special focus on bees.

Biographical/historical note

Theodore B. Mitchell was born on October 26, 1890, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He attended Massachusetts Agricultural College (now University of Massachusetts, Amherst), from which he graduated with a B.S. degree in 1920. He also served in the U.S. Army as a Band Sargeant, spending one year in France during World War I. Mitchell was employed by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture in 1920 as an Assistant Entomologist. In that capacity he conducted extensive field surveys, and the focus on "systematic entomology" that was to dominate his future research came into being. Furthering his education, Mitchell obtained the M.S. degree from North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering (later North Carolina State University) in 1924, and completed his education with an S.D. degree from Harvard University in 1928.

Joining the North Carolina State College faculty in 1925, Dr. Mitchell was promoted to associate professor in 1930, and achieved the rank of full professor in 1938, a position that he held until his retirement in 1961. Mitchell continued his research for many years after his retirement, and was a noted figure in the field of entomology. The special attention given to bees throughout his career culminated in the publication of Bees of the Eastern United States, a two-volume manual of the entire bee fauna.

Dr. Mitchell was a member of many honorary and professional fraternities and organizations, most notably Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi, Gamma Sigma Delta, the Entomological Society of America, and the North Carolina Academy of Science.

Dr. Mitchell married Miss Olivia Gowan of Raleigh in 1924, and they had one son, Richard. Theodore B. Mitchell died on February 10, 1983.

Scope/content

The Theodore B. Mitchell Papers consists of correspondence, research notes, glass plate lantern slides, and newspaper clippings pertaining to Theodore B. Mitchell's career and his research on "systematic entomology," and in particular his study of bees (which culminated in the publication of the two-volume Bees of the Eastern United States). The Professional Correspondence series contains letters to colleagues in the field of entomology and includes, among others, letters to and from the British Museum of Natural History, the California Academy of Sciences, the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the College of Tropical Agriculture. The Personal Correspondence series contains letters to friends and family members, as well as letters that document his involvement with various civic organizations.

Arrangement

Collection is arranged in five series: 1. Professional Correspondence; 2. Personal Correspondence; 3. Glass Plate Lantern Slides; 4. Travel Diaries and Field Notes; 5. Slides and Biographical Information.

Use of these materials

North Carolina State University does not own copyright to this collection. Individuals obtaining materials from the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections Research Center are responsible for using the works in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Theodore B. Mitchell Papers, MC 00183, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Source of acquisition

Transfer from Department of Entomology, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, April 22, 1986, and July 2007. The last departmental transfer was Accession Number 2007-0231. In addition accessions made through the following donations: gift of Sam Droege, 2008 (Accession 2008-0068), and gift of Janet Mitchell, 2008 (Accession 2008-0272).

Processing information

Processed by: Special Collections Staff; machine-readable finding aid created by: Valerie Gillispie, 2004; Finding aid updated by Special Collections staff to reflect additions to the collection, 2007; Glass lantern slides series reprocessed by Alanna Natanson, 2022 May; Finding aid updated by Clara Wilson, 2022 May

Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.
Professional Correspondence (Series 001)
Size: 2.75 linear feet

6 archival storage boxes

By Individual
Alex, A. H. 1955-1967
Half box 1, Folder 1
Baker, James R. 1968-1971
Half box 1, Folder 2
Biol, Mario Sousa S. 1968, 1970-1974
Half box 1, Folder 3
Bohart, Richard M. and G. E. [Folder 1 of 2] 1936-1940, 1948-1950, 1955, 1960-1976
Half box 1, Folder 4
Bohart, Richard M. and G. E. [Folder 2 of 2] 1936-1940, 1948-1950, 1955, 1960-1976
Half box 1, Folder 5
Bradley, J. Chester 1961, 1962, 1964
Half box 1, Folder 6
Covell, Charles V., Jr. 1970-1972
Half box 1, Folder 7
Evans, Howard E. 1956-1962, 1966
Half box 1, Folder 8
Krombein, Dr. Karl V. [Folder 1 of 3] 1946-1967, 1972-1973, 1967
Box 2, Folder 1
Krombein, Dr. Karl V. [Folder 2 of 3] 1946-1967, 1972-1973, 1967
Box 2, Folder 2
Krombein, Dr. Karl V. [Folder 3 of 3] 1946-1967, 1972-1973, 1967
Box 2, Folder 3
La Berge, Wallace E. [Folder 1 of 2] 1954-1971, 1974-1975, 1977, 1980
Box 2, Folder 4
La Berge, Wallace E. [Folder 2 of 2] 1954-1971, 1974-1975, 1977, 1980
Box 2, Folder 5
Lanham, U. N. 1958, 1962-1964, 1972, 1976
Box 2, Folder 6
McClay, A. T. 1952-1954, 1956, 1962-1964
Box 2, Folder 7
Medler, J. T. 1946, 1954-1962, 1964-1969
Box 2, Folder 8
Michner, Charles D. [Folder 1 of 3] 1936-1937, 1940, 1946-1969, 1971, 1974-1979
Box 2, Folder 9
Michner, Charles D. [Folder 2 of 3] 1936-1937, 1940, 1946-1969, 1971, 1974-1979
Box 2, Folder 10
Michner, Charles D. [Folder 3 of 3] 1936-1937, 1940, 1946-1969, 1971, 1974-1979
Box 2, Folder 11
Milliron, Herbert 1948-1949, 1960-1962, 1966
Box 2, Folder 12
Moldenke, Andrew R. 1973-1974, 1976
Box 3, Folder 1
Montgomery, B. Elwood 1948, 1955-1957
Box 3, Folder 2
Morrison, Fred 1944-1945
Box 6, Folder 15
Morse, Roger A. 1955-1962, 1964
Box 3, Folder 3
Moure, P. J. 1941-1943, 1946, 1950-1954, 1956-1960, 1962-1967, 1970-1972
Box 3, Folder 4
Muesebeck, C. F. W. 1943, 1945-1958, 1960
Box 3, Folder 5
Osychniuk, A. Z. 1963-1964
Box 3, Folder 6
Parker, Frank 1962, 1964, 1966-1967, 1974-1976
Box 3, Folder 7
Pasteels, J. J.
Box 3, Folder 8
Ponomareva, Anna A. 1960-1961, 1963-1964, 1973
Box 3, Folder 9
Ribble, D. W. 1961-1963, 1966
Box 3, Folder 10
Ribble, D. W.
Box 3, Folder 10
Roberts, Radclyffe B. 1963-1964, 1966, 1968-1969, 1972-1974, 1977
Box 3, Folder 11
Rodeck, Hugo G. 1940, 1946-1947, 1956-1964, 1971
Box 3, Folder 12
Rozen, Jerome G. 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1975
Box 3, Folder 13
Scullen, H. A. 1926, 1930, 1934-1938, 1944, 1945, 1948-1952, 1956, 1958, 1963
Box 3, Folder 14
Snelling, Roy 1950-1954, 1957-1964, 1969-1971
Box 3, Folder 15
Stephen, William P. [Folder 1 of 2] 1949, 1952, 1954, 1956-1958, 1960-1964, 1966, 1967, 1973, 1974
Box 3, Folder 16
Stephen, William P. [Folder 2 of 2] 1949, 1952, 1954, 1956-1958, 1960-1964, 1966, 1967, 1973, 1974
Box 3, Folder 17
Timberlake, P. H. [Folder 1 of 3] 1927-1929, 1934-1938, 1943-1945, 1948-1953, 1955-1964, 1966, 1968, 1970-1972, 1974, 1975, 1977
Box 4, Folder 1
Timberlake, P. H. [Folder 2 of 3] 1927-1929, 1934-1938, 1943-1945, 1948-1953, 1955-1964, 1966, 1968, 1970-1972, 1974, 1975, 1977
Box 4, Folder 2
Timberlake, P. H. [Folder 3 of 3] 1927-1929, 1934-1938, 1943-1945, 1948-1953, 1955-1964, 1966, 1968, 1970-1972, 1974, 1975, 1977
Box 4, Folder 3
Toro, Harold 1966-1969, 1972-1974, 1977
Box 4, Folder 4
Townes, Henry 1948, 1952-1956, 1958, 1960-1962, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1972
Box 4, Folder 5
Weems, Howard V., Jr. [Folder 1 of 3] 1954-1971, 1973
Box 4, Folder 6
Weems, Howard V., Jr. [Folder 2 of 3] 1954-1971, 1973
Box 4, Folder 7
Weems, Howard V., Jr. [Folder 3 of 3] 1954-1971, 1973
Box 4, Folder 8
Multiple-Entry Files
Atyeo; Bennett; Dietrich; Eickwort 1947-1948, 1950, 1952, 1956, 1959, 1962-1969, 1972, 1974-1975
Box 4, Folder 9
Boucek; Macek; Pulawski bulk 1963-1964
Box 4, Folder 10
Butler; Werner 1953-1958, 1961-1964, 1968, 1969, 1971
Box 4, Folder 11
Chandler; Comeau; Cooper 1946-1947, 1953, 1957, 1959-1963
Box 4, Folder 12
Hedicke; Hill; Hiroshima; Hubbell 1928, 1934, 1949, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1970
Box 4, Folder 13
Lieftinck; Ordway; Schlinger 1952, 1954, 1958-1962, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1972
Box 4, Folder 14
By Subject Letter Heading
G 1945-1947, 1949-1951, 1953, 1956-1958, 1960-1963, 1965-1966, 1970, 1972, 1973
Box 5, Folder 1
H 1936, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1950-1952, 1954-1966, 1968-1969, 1971-1974
Box 5, Folder 2
I - J 1951, 1954, 1963, 1976-1978
Box 5, Folder 3
K [Folder 1 of 2] 1939, 1942-1946, 1949-1954, 1956-1960, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1974-1977
Box 5, Folder 4
K [Folder 2 of 2] 1939, 1942-1946, 1949-1954, 1956-1960, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1974-1977
Box 5, Folder 5
L 1940, 1943-1952, 1954-1963, 1965-1967, 1969, 1975-1978
Box 5, Folder 6
M [Folder 1 of 2] 1929-1935, 1937, 1938, 1941, 1943-1946, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1954-1962, 1966, 1968, 1976
Box 5, Folder 7
M [Folder 2 of 2] 1929-1935, 1937, 1938, 1941, 1943-1946, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1954-1962, 1966, 1968, 1976
Box 5, Folder 8
N 1944, 1947, 1953, 1957, 1976
Box 5, Folder 9
P - Q [Folder 1 of 2] 1939-1948, 1952-1963, 1966, 1969, 1974, 1977
Box 5, Folder 10
P - Q [Folder 2 of 2] 1939-1948, 1952-1963, 1966, 1969, 1974, 1977
Box 5, Folder 11
R 1925, 1935, 1938, 1940-1942, 1945, 1948-1949, 1952, 1954-1958, 1962-1974, 1978, 1979
Box 5, Folder 12
S [Folder 1 of 2] 1936, 1938-1944, 1946-1948, 1951-1969, 1975-1978
Box 6, Folder 1
S [Folder 2 of 2] 1936, 1938-1944, 1946-1948, 1951-1969, 1975-1978
Box 6, Folder 2
T 1943, 1946, 1951, 1954-1958, 1961-1963, 1966, 1967, 1973, 1977
Box 6, Folder 3
U - V 1929, 1932, 1935, 1938, 1941, 1945, 1947, 1950, 1954, 1956, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1975
Box 6, Folder 4
W 1905, 1927, 1931, 1940-1944, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1952-1959, 1965-1970, 1977
Box 6, Folder 5
X - Z 1949, 1958, 1963, 1971, 1973, 1974
Box 6, Folder 6
By Topic
British Museum of Natural History 1932-1939, 1947, 1948, 1956-1964, 1967, 1968, 1972-1976
Box 6, Folder 7
California Academy of Sciences 1963-1964
Box 6, Folder 8
Editorial Notes 1958
Box 6, Folder 9
Illinois Natural History Survey bulk 1942, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1957, 1960-1962
Box 6, Folder 10
Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences bulk 1946, 1947, 1958, 1960, 1969, 1977
Box 6, Folder 11
Rockefeller Foundation, Imp. College of Tropical Ag. bulk 1945, 1951, 1963
Box 6, Folder 12
Types of Collections bulk 1947, 1952
Box 6, Folder 13
Miscellaneous Professional Correspondence bulk 1949, 1956, 1961, 1963, 1968-1972, 1979-1981
Box 6, Folder 14
Personal Correspondence (Series 002)
Size: 0.2 linear feet

1 archival storage box

Perez Simmons 1941-1973
Half box 7, Folder 1
Political 1945, 1965-1970
Half box 7, Folder 2
Undated
Half box 7, Folder 3
Dated
Half box 7, Folder 4
Glass Plate Lantern Slides 1920-1939 (Series 003)
Size: 0.5 linear feet

Contained here are glass plate lantern slides showing photographs of insects (including but not exclusively bees), turtles, and crabs; illustrated diagrams of insects; and taxonomies of organisms. Also contains specimen descriptions on index cards (associated with many of the slides by slide number), and mounted dragonflies. These item had been discovered in the offices or labs of the Department of Entomology and they were transferred to Special Collections in July 2007.

75 glass plate lantern slides

Slides (Accession no. 2007-0231)
Card box 8
Slides, mounted dragonflies, and specimen descriptions (index cards)
Lantern slide box 10
Travel Diaries and Field Notes 1920-1963 (Series 004)
Size: 0.05 linear feet

Diaries and notes from research trips and personal travel.

Travel Diaries and Field Notes 1920-1963 (Accession no. 2008-0068)
Half box 7, Folder 5
Slides and Biographical Information 1941-2008 (Series 099)
Size: 0.05 linear feet

Addition donated by Janet Mitchell, daughter-in-law of Theodore B. Mitchell: 1 small box of photographic slides and 1 notebook of memoirs, correspondence, newsclippings, interview transcript, and other documents.

Theodore B. Mitchell Slides Undated (Accession no. 2008-0272)
Box 9, Folder 1
Entomology Club Newsletter (dedicated to Dr. Mitchell) 1963 (Accession 2012.0014)
Box 9, Folder 2
Theodore B. Mitchell Interview
Box 9, Folder 3
Newspaper Articles
Box 9, Folder 4
Theodore B. Mitchell Photographs
Box 9, Folder 5
Season's Greetings
Box 9, Folder 6
Alumni Report
Box 9, Folder 7
Richard T. Mitchell (son)
Box 9, Folder 8
Collections and Writings
Box 9, Folder 9
Awards and Recognitions
Box 9, Folder 10
Trip to Puerto Rico and Trinidad Recollection
Box 9, Folder 11
Raleigh Recollection
Box 9, Folder 12
Theodore B. Mitchell Early Years Recollection
Box 9, Folder 13
1920 Recollection
Box 9, Folder 14
Diary T.B. and Olivia G. Mitchell Europe
Box 9, Folder 15
End of World War I Recollection
Box 9, Folder 16
Collection Slides
Box 9, Folder 17
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

Access to the collection

Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice.

For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.

Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111

Phone: (919) 515-2273

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Theodore B. Mitchell Papers, MC 00183, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Use of these materials

North Carolina State University does not own copyright to this collection. Individuals obtaining materials from the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections Research Center are responsible for using the works in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.